Four singing hopefuls bow out

Four singing hopefuls were knocked out of The Voice in the first live show of the series.

The quarter-final of the BBC singing contest featured performances by the 12 finalists - with each coach losing one act following a public vote.

Will. i. am lost 19-year-old Iesher Haughton, from Walthamstow, east London, but told her she was a "bona fide star", adding: "Please don't stop singing."

The only female in Kylie Minogue's team - Rachael O'Connor, 17, from Derry - was knocked out, and when she learned of her fate, she said: "I can't thank Kylie enough. She is my idol. Maybe that sounds cringey but she is."

Georgia Harrup was knocked out of Tom Jones' team, and said: "I've come further than I ever imagined."

The 27-year-old from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said this week she had not heard from her chart-topping relative Adele, in the wake of her success in the show.

She found out she was related to Adele five years ago as her father Albie, a guitarist for rock band Information who has released Christian albums as a solo performer, is the brother of Adele's grandmother. The two singers have met only once, at a family gathering when they were children.

The fourth singer forced to say goodbye to their time on The Voice was Emily Adams, 18, from Blackpool, who was the act knocked out of Ricky Wilson's team.

"This ain't the last you'll see of me," she said.

Each coach now has two acts each going into next week's semi-final.

Team Will is Jermain Jackman, 19, from Hackney, east London, and Sophie-May Williams, 17, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

Team Tom is Bizzi Dixon, 43, from Leicester, and Sally Barker, 54, also from Leicester.

Team Kylie is Jamie Johnson,19, from Gillingham, Kent, and Lee Glasson, 31, from Coventry.

And Team Ricky is Chris Royal, 25, from Fallowfield, Manchester, and Christina Marie Wickens, 20, from Bristol.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the show said it is "too early to speculate" about Minogue's future as a coach.

The Australian pop star said earlier this month that her tour could rule her out of the next series.

Minogue, 45, replaced Jessie J on the panel in the third series, but a spokeswoman for The Voice said discussions about Minogue's future are "ongoing".

She said: "Kylie is a fantastic addition to the coaching line up. We are aware of Kylie's touring commitments and are looking to accommodate them, so that if the series is re-commissioned she could return to her coaching role.

"Discussions are still ongoing and it's too early to speculate as we've not finished this series yet."

Minogue told The Sun that "the timings wouldn't work", and added that she "would have to think about it" if the BBC changed filming dates.

Earlier this month, the former Neighbours actress said: ''I'm already doing it again in Australia, but UK or Australia, I don't know if I could (do another season) because I'm going to be touring. We'll see."

Adding: ''I am doing The Voice Australia so that will carry on until July. I've got to get through at least this one first, and then two with Australia.''